Electroplating barrel



2 Sheets-Sheel'l 2 P. L. -AMLJNDSEN ELECTROPLATING' BARREL Filed FebQ 13,

O O O O O O O O O OO o 0.0 OO O OO O O O OO O O O OO O 000k o o o o o June 14, 1938.

INVENTOR 79d!!! Hmzlndser?,

T'RNEY Patented June 14, 1938 PATENT O FFICE ELECTROPLATING BARREL Paul L. Amundsen, Detroit, Mich.

' Application February 13, 1936,y serial No. 63,691

e 2 Claims.

' This invention relates to a tumbling barrel which is so treated that it is suitable for use in plating solutions, cleaning solutions such as acid pickling and alkaline cleaning solutions, 5 and rust-proofing solutions of all types.

A barrel is used in such a, solution for processing small articles which cannot be done individually in practical operation. In order to secure contact of the solution with all parts of the mass of small articles the barrel is usually kept rotating, turning the. pieces being processed over and over, constantly subjecting new surfaces to the action of the solution until all have been treated.

Heretofore, many materials have been used in an effort to find a suitable composition from which to make a barrel for use in chemical solutions having corroding properties, but for one reason or another none of them has proven quite satisfactory for all purposes.

In the plating industry, barrels of this type must be constructed so that the axle is insulated from the rest of the barrel, for the axle and protrusions from the axle which contact the work are usually made one pole of the electric current, the other pole being situated outside the barrel. In order for the solution and the electric current to reach the pieces being plated, the sides of the barrel are perforated. g

Ordinary metals as such, are not suitable for use in the construction of these barrels as the work and the axle transmit the current to the barrel which results in a coating of the depositing metal on the barrel itself. Further, plating solutions are usually so corrosive that they attack the metal causing rapid deterioration and adding foreign ions to the solution.

Wood has been used for the construction of plating barrels, but it swells, splits and deteriorates rapidly from the combined action of the strong chemical solutions and wear from the pieces being plated tumbling constantly inside. Because of the relative fragility of wood, the perforations in the sides which are necessary to permit the solution to get inside must be so small or fewer in number than is desired in order for the sides to bear up under the strain, that a great deal of electric current is wasted because of the added resistance in reaching the articles being plated.

Bakelite and hard rubber are insulating materials and are used extensively for the construction of plating barrels, but their use also presents serious disadvantages. These materials are expensive and being hard and brittle in nature. chip, crack o r swell under the severe action of heat, solution and impact of pieces of metal being tumbled about inside. Here, too, the periorations must be smallor fewer in number than is desired in order to have the sides of the barrel substantial enough to carry the load.

In the art of cleaning, pickling and rustproong, considerable difliculty has been 'experienced in finding suitable material from which to construct tumbling barrels for use in the various solutions, because of corroding qualities of the solutions. In some cases electricity is used and the same difllculty of procuring economical current transmission arises.

It is the object of this invention to provide a tumbling barrel which is suitable for use in any and all of the above mentioned arts, which combines unusualeconomy in construction, durability, immunity from corroding leffects of acid and alkali, which by its strength allows a greaterA area for perforations and thereby produces greater economy in electrical current consumption.

The barrel is constructed of steel or any other suitable metal and covered with a layer of pliable rubber. The rubber may be applied in any desired manner preferably making use of rubber compounded in a liquid form, for example by spraying or dipping. A fairly thin coat is all that is necessary to produce the desired result, but varying considerably with the use to which it is put.

The attached drawings illustrate an example of a plating barrel constructed in accordance with this invention. Figure l is a sectional view of a tank in which is contained the plating solution, showing the position of a barrel suspended therein. Figure 2 is an elevation o f the finished barrel. Figure 3 shows a cross section through the finished barrel indicated at 3 3 in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the finished barrel taken from 4 4 in Figure 3. Figure 5 shows an enlarged section taken from 5 5 in Figure 4, and shows rubber covering on the expanded metal. Figure 6 shows a fragmentary sketch of a modification of the invention comprising a rubber coating on a perforated steel plate in place of the expanded metal. Figure 'l shows a modification in the drum head assembly ln a sectional view.

In the drawings attached, number I indicates expanded metal, 2 is the pliable rubber coating, 3 the perforations which extend through the rubber, number 4 indicates the tank in which is contained the plating solution and in which is suspended the barrel, while l is insulation between the tank and the brackets from. which is sus'- pended the barrel. Number i points out the ratchet gear which is fastened securely to the head of the barrel, and number 1 indicates the assembly for transmitting power to the ratchet gear and thereby tumbles the whole barrel over and over. Number 8 shows a suggested bracket from which to suspend the barrel which allowsv it to tumble without binding the axle ends. Number 9 indicates that the positive pole of the electric current is connected to the tank although it may be connected to anodes placed in the solution outside the barrel. The negative pole,

as indicated by number I0 is connected to thev shows the metal axle upon which the barrel is assembled. In barrels which are not to be used with electric current, the axle need not extend the entireflength of the barrel, but may be just a short piece fastened securely in the middie of the outside of each end piece. Number I2y illustrates a type of dangler which may be used; it is fastened to and keeps constant contact with the axle but is loose enough so that the dangler does not turn over with the axle and the rest of the barrel, so that it is allowed to mingle with the pieces being plated and transmit the negative charge to the work. Number I3 shows a rubber covered metal angle which runs the full length of the barrel and assists in exposing new surfaces to the action pf the solution during its tumbling action by jutting up inside the barrel and keeping the work from merely slipping around the inside. The angle is held in place by rivets numbered I'I, or it may be welded or bolted. Number I4 indicates a removable section of the side wall which is used for loading and unloading the barrel with small metal pieces to be plated. The cover or removable piece of side wall is securely held in place along one side by lapping under the edges of the barrel, at the ends by overlapping the frame, and along the other side by bolts (I5) and wing nuts (I5) The ratchet gear is securely fastened to the head of the barrel by nuts and boltsnumbered I8.

'Ihis particular barrel is constructed in three principal parts; the axle is welded to one end, the sides in a cylindrical shape are then slipped on fitting snugly to the head welded on the axle, then the other end having the ratchet fastened securely to it is slipped on to the axle, fitting snugly up against the open end of the side piece. Next a rubber covered metal washer (2|) is slipped over the axle and a wedge pin (I9) is placed in a slot through the axle holding the complete barrel firmly together. The load is put into the barrel thru the opening in the side Wall, the cover (I4) is then put in place and the wing nuts screwed down over washers (22).'

Number 20 indicates a modification in the use of a metal plate through which holes have been drilled or stamped and then the whole covered with rubber to be used in place of expanded metal. A still further modification is to use woven metal in place of the expanded metal.

I'he rubber covering is most practicably applied by dipping or spraying processes, using rubber compounded in liquid form, but it is understood that the various methods of applying rubiljiier to metal are within the spirit of this inven- The figures attached serve to illustrate one workable subject of this invention, but it is understood that the invention anticipates any type, design, size or shape of barrel constructed ofr metal, insulated with pliable rubber and used with plating, pickling, alkali cleaning or rustprooflng solutions. A 4

The metal base construction is perfectly insulated from the electric current and/or from corroding effects of the strong chemical solutions. The insulation is pliable and therefore will not crack, and the combination will not swell or corrode. The pliable rubber coating is extremely resistant to wear.

Barrels made in accordance with this invention have a longer useful life than the bakelite composition, and hard rubber barrels of the prior art, and are considerably less vexpensive to build.

In addition, when the rubber coating does finally wear oil', the cost of recoating the barrel is small yet has the practical effect of producing a new barrel. The old type barrel requires complete replacement. 'I'his feature along with Wasted power, in the case of the old type barrels, idds appreciably to the cost of plating or clean- It is understood that the above detailed description is submitted as an illustration of one of the many ways in which this invention may be put into commercial use and that the scope of the invention is to be determined and limited only by the appending claims.

What I claim is: 1. Electropiating apparatus including in com.- binatlon a shaft, a tumbling barrel carried by said shaft, said barrel comprising a pair of generally -circular sheet metal, rubber covered heads, the

rubber covering of at least one of said heads being interposed between the metallic portion of saidvhead and said shaft whereby to insulate the metallic portion of said head with respect to said shaft, and a generally cylindrical metallic body portion for said barrel having openings therethrough, said body portion being entirely covered with rubber, said rubber being interposed between said metallic body portion and said heads whereby to insulate said heads with respect to the metallic body portion of said barrel.

2. Electroplating apparatus including in combination a shaft, a tumbling barrel carried by said shaft, said barrel comprising a pair of generally circular sheet metal, rubber covered heads, the rubber covering of at least one of said heads being interposed between the metallic portion thereof and said shaft whereby to insulate the metallic portion of said head from said shaft and a generally cylindrical body portion for said barrel formed of sheet metal having openings therethrough and entirely covered with rubber, the rubber covering of said body portion being interposed between the metallic portion of said body and said heads whereby to insulate the connection between said body portion and said heads.

PAUL L. AMUNDSEN. 

